Endangered and Extinct Species

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News about Endangered and Extinct Species, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Jul. 31, 2015

Editorial reflects on public outrage over illegal killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe by American big-game hunter Dr Walter Palmer of Minnesota; suggests lion's death could have beneficial effect of focusing on many endangered species threatened not only by poaching and hunting, but also by loss of habitat on African continent. MORE

Jul. 31, 2015

Obscura Digital chief creative officer Travis Threlkel and filmmaker Louie Psihoyos have collaborated on project in which they project massive moving images of endangered species on Empire State Building at night in effort to raise awareness about animals' plight; project represents first time moving images have been shown on Empire State Building. MORE

Jul. 26, 2015

Obama administration announces series of regulations aimed at curbing endangered wildlife poaching in Africa; announcement comes as Obama opens visit to Kenya, which relies on survival of endangered species to support its tourism industry; United States is world's second largest consumer of poached ivory. MORE

Jul. 22, 2015

Riverkeeper environmental group blames construction on replacement for Tappan Zee Bridge for dramatic rise in reported deaths of endangered Atlantic sturgeon in Hudson River; calls for enforcement of low speed limits and use of propeller cages for boats working on new bridge; New York State Environmental Conservation Dept and New York Thruway Authority say it is not possible to link fish deaths to project. MORE

Jul. 7, 2015

Op-Ed article by Gib Brogan criticizes two proposals from New England Fishery Management Council that will threaten survival of Atlantic cod and other New England species in order to boost fishing industry; calls on Commerce Dept and National Marine Fisheries Service to reject proposals; underscores lasting value that habitat protections and enforcement of catch quotas will have for both industry and fish populations. MORE

Jun. 29, 2015

Manipuri pony, Indian breed of pony mainly bred for polo, is now endangered, as sport loses its popularity. MORE

Jun. 28, 2015

Editorial welcomes move by United States Fish and Wildlife Service to strengthen protections for captive chimps by classifying them as 'endangered,' which will curb use of chimps in medical research, entertainment and as pets. MORE

Jun. 13, 2015

Fish and Wildlife Service is poised to designate all chimpanzees as being endangered under Endangered Species Act, removing distinction between captive chimpanzees and their wild counterparts. MORE

Jun. 2, 2015

Mysterious disease has been killing off world's population of saigas, type of antelope found in Central Asia, claiming more than a third of 250,000 remaining animals in span of few weeks; endangered population had been rebounding from poaching, but unexplained deaths could undo years of conservation efforts even as biologists struggle to discover cause. MORE

May. 29, 2015

Obama administration moves to limit petroleum drilling in areas across 10 Western states in order to protect greater sage grouse and keep it off the endangered species list; business interests have said that adding species to list would stifle development of vast energy resources in Wyoming and nearby states; proposal is aimed at balancing economic and environmental concerns. MORE

May. 26, 2015

Scientists in China attempt artificial insemination of Yangtze giant softshell turtle, last female turtle of that type in world, in effort to save species on brink of extinction; breeding turtle by more conventional means has failed. MORE

May. 21, 2015

House Republicans' attempt to block endangered species protections for the sage grouse and two other birds as part of $612 billion military bill sets off major congressional skirmish; push, part of a broader Republican attempt to roll back environmental regulations, has outraged environmentalists and Western state constituents. MORE

May. 5, 2015

Dr Mark Urban study published in journal Science finds that global climate change could drive as many as one in six animal and plant species to extinction; other experts suggest impact could be even greater as more and more species shift their ranges to escape rising temperatures. MORE

May. 2, 2015

Op-Ed article by scholar and author Deborah Cramer laments dramatically falling numbers of shore birds migrating through United States each year as they are threatened by predators, development, global warming and rising seas; holds it is possible to bring threatened birds back from brink of extinction; calls for conservation efforts like habitat conservation and hunting restrictions, as well as increased funding and research. MORE

Apr. 28, 2015

New England Aquarium has, for 15 years, provided microgrants to conservation projects across the globe that focus on monitoring and preserving endangered marine species; aquarium's Marine Conservation Fund has distributed total of $700,000 to 122 projects in 40 countries in areas where overfishing, habitat loss and pollution threaten countless species. MORE

Apr. 18, 2015

Debate is brimming between bird watchers and feline lovers over feral cat colony on Jones Beach that some say threatens existence of piping plovers, endangered shorebirds that nest in sands of coastal beaches. MORE

Apr. 17, 2015

Mexican Navy expands patrols in Gulf of California in effort to stop illegal fishing that has reduced number of small porpoises called vaquitas to fewer than 100. MORE

Apr. 14, 2015

Researchers have found that attaching inexpensive LED lights to trawler nets deters threatened smelt species called eulachon from being captured without negatively affecting shrimp catch. MORE

Apr. 5, 2015

Lydia Millet Op-Ed article describes scene at the International Wildlife Museum in Tucson, founded by C J McElroy along with trophy hunter group Safari Club International, which shares space with museum; notes absence of any mention of Safari Club's activities, which are mainly concerned with circumventing laws to allow wealthy to hunt endangered animals; suggests that the purpose of the museum is to mask that agenda. MORE

Apr. 2, 2015

United States Fish and Wildlife service is listing northern long-eared bat as threatened, bestowing new protections to species that has been nearly wiped out in some places by spread of fungal disease called white-nose syndrome. MORE

Mar. 31, 2015

Pangolin, shy animal that resembles scaly anteater, is being hunted to extinction as demand grows, along with poaching operations in Asia and Africa; pangolin is valued for its meat and supposed medicinal properties of its scales. MORE

Mar. 31, 2015

Illegal hunting operations in Vietnam are threatening existence of several species of rare wild animals, as poachers seek to capitalize off of demand for exotic meats and ingredients in traditional medicines; stemming illegal trade has proved difficult in Vietnam, where few protections exist and conservation is not high priority. MORE

Mar. 8, 2015

Coral reefs near Port of Miami, Fla, including endangered staghorn coral, are being damaged by Army Corps of Engineers-led dredging project intended to make way for supersized cargo ships; damage has led to outcry and lawsuit by environmentalists. MORE

Mar. 1, 2015

Mexico bans use of gillnets for two years across northern Gulf of California in effort to save vaquita, porpoise that has been driven to edge of extinction as result of illegal fishing for totoaba, fish sold in China. MORE

Feb. 15, 2015

Delta smelt population in Northern California, where tiny rare fish inhabits state's biggest river delta, has been decimated by drought and pumping of water to areas as far south as Los Angeles; as California faces a likely fourth year of drought, smelt is potent symbol in national debate over balancing needs of endangered species with those of state's residents, farmers and businesses for adequate water supplies. MORE

Feb. 15, 2015

Op-Ed article by Christopher Solomon underscores little-known fact that recreational activities like hiking and skiing disrupt natural environment, so much so that outdoor recreation and tourism is fourth-leading reason species are listed as endangered; suggests that there should be more restrictions on outdoor recreational activities. MORE

Feb. 15, 2015

Editorial warns that booming international market for prized animal parts of endangered species continues apace and there has been little effective policing that can stem the trade; praises Obama administration for promising to use American intelligence agencies to aid in shutting down organized and armed black market gangs. MORE

Feb. 12, 2015

Obama administration introduces vigorous plan to stem illegal wildlife trafficking that includes use of American intelligence agencies to track and target those profiting from the multi-billion-dollar business; plan will raise pressure on Asian nations to stop purchases and sales of rhinoceros horns, elephant ivory and other items. MORE

Feb. 10, 2015

Study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests extinction of many species endemic to Australia has been caused by introduction and procreation of feral cats and red foxes starting in late 1800s; lead author Prof Jon Woinarski of Charles Darwin University holds 10 percent of Australia’s land mammal species have been wiped out as result. MORE

Feb. 8, 2015

Legal battle in Pakistan over foreign hunting permits for houbara bustard, migratory bird that has long been hunted by Arab royalty, has focused attention on practice; order to cancel all foreign hunting permits has become minor political crisis in light of favorable reception by Pakistani officials of Saudi Prince Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz when he arrived to hunt the bird; Saudi royalty began visiting Pakistan to engage in hunting houbara in 1970s. MORE

Jan. 21, 2015

India says its tiger population has increased more than 30 percent over last four years to 2,226; rise comes after decade-long attempt to fight poaching; country has 70 percent of world's tigers. MORE

Jan. 19, 2015

Op-Ed article by author Lydia Millet warns that gray wolf populations have been threatened by 2011 removal of federal protection of animals in Northern Rocky Mountains and western Great Lakes; notes that Fish and Wildlife Service is considering proposal that would strip federal protection from almost all gray wolves in lower 48 states; calls for federal government to maintain protection for wolves. MORE

Dec. 20, 2014

Federal Judge Beryl Howell rules to keep gray wolves on endangered species list; decision bans further hunting and trapping in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. MORE

Dec. 13, 2014

Nearly 1,200 Kemp's ridley turtles, most endangered sea turtles, have washed ashore on beaches of Cape Cod Bay since mid-November, prompting a major rescue effort; experts speculate that warmer oceans are causing turtles to seek new habitats. MORE

Nov. 13, 2014

Tefe Journal; people living along banks of Amazon River in Brazil and scientists are working together to save pirarucu, giant freshwater fish threatened with extinction; strategies include prohibiting outsiders from catching fish and overhauling their own methods of pursuing it. MORE

Nov. 11, 2014

The Appraisal column; avian murals appearing in Upper Manhattan where naturalist John Audubon once lived are intended to help the Audubon Society’s campaign to raise awareness of birds that are threatened by climate change; works are also turning the West 140s and 150s into a painted aviary. MORE

Oct. 31, 2014

Study in journal Science finds an emerging infection similar to one that has caused the extinction of hundreds of frog and toad species around world is killing salamanders in Europe and could easily spread to the United States; claims the importation of the fire-bellied newt in pet trade with Asia is likely cause, saying Europe and United States must screen amphibians in pet trade. MORE

Oct. 29, 2014

Conservationists hail successful effort to bring giant tortoises on the Galapagos island of Espanola back from the brink of extinction; population of the tortoises--Chelonoidis hoodensis--has surged to about 1,000 from just 15 five decades earlier. MORE

Oct. 26, 2014

Lonesome George, giant Galapagos tortoise whose 2012 death signified the end of his subspecies, has been preserved by Wildlife Preservations and is on display at American Museum of Natural History; details of preservation process discussed. MORE

Sep. 28, 2014

News analysis by Jim Robbins; governments, scientists and nonprofits are trying to build modern version of Noah's ark in order to protect Earth's species, which has raised complex questions about which species to save and how. MORE

Sep. 24, 2014

Federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson restores Endangered Species Act protection for wolves in Wyoming, ruling that the federal Fish and Wildlife Service accepted a state commitment to maintain the wolf population without requiring adequate safeguards. MORE

Sep. 23, 2014

Conservation biologists are considering moving whitebark pine trees, species common in Rocky and Sierra Mountains that is threatened by combination of fungus, beetles and changing climate, to areas where they may fare better; critics argue that move, called assisted migration, carries its own risks. MORE

Sep. 15, 2014

San Felipe Journal; snub-nosed porpoise known as vaquita has become collateral damage as poachers in Mexico sweep up giant fish called totoaba to ship to consumers in China; both animals are endangered, and experts warn that without intervention vaquita will be extinct within four years. MORE

Sep. 4, 2014

Officials at Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City present the first litter of Mexican gray wolves conceived in the country by artificial insemination, part of effort to save one of the hemisphere’s most endangered animals. MORE

Aug. 31, 2014

Op-Ed article by John W Fitzpatrick, executive director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, questions whether the passenger pigeon has taught America anything about conservation on the 100th anniversary of its extinction; contends the tragedy of the passenger pigeon should exhort Americans to have courage to redouble efforts in protecting endangered species. MORE

Aug. 28, 2014

Federal government will add 20 types of coral to its list of threatened species; cites fishing practices and global warming as contributing factors. MORE

Aug. 28, 2014

Op-Ed article by wildlife biologist Darcy L Ogada warns poachers in Africa are poisoning vultures, whose circling over carcasses has been used by authorities to track down the location of crimes; notes four of the nine main species of vulture on continent are endangered; calls for more stringent regulation and control over the distribution of pesticides, and prosecutions for those who use pesticides to poison wildlife. MORE

Aug. 26, 2014

Growing number of younger Native Americans are working to restore native animals to the Northern Great Plains in states like Montana and Nebraska, providing new homes for the animals and a connection to the past; species include genetically pure bison, the swift fox and the black-footed ferret. MORE

Aug. 21, 2014

Op-Ed article by ecologist John A Vucetich and environmental ethicist Michael Paul Nelson decries new and more limited interpretation of the Endangered Species Act announced by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; holds that interpreting an animal or plant's range more narrowly threatens to reduce law to mechanism that merely preserves small, isolated pockets of species. MORE